The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-06-11

wreck had long since been deserted
from the shore, and suddenly bright
flash shot out from the brow of the
cliff, and something like fiery star
came kissing toward the stranded brig
through the darkness which the first
pale CLEAN of dawn was Just beginning
| to pierce. 1t was rocket with rope
attached to it.
Such was the fury of the storm that
the messenger of safety all but missed
its mark. The line fell just upon the
shattered bow, and would have drop
ped off into the sea in another instant
had not one of the sailors sprung for
ward and caught it. 1t was quickly
made fast, while those on shore secur-
ed the other end, and the way of esr-
cape lay open.
In trice Captain Barrett had fas-
tened his wife and little Mary firmly
into the sling attached 10 the rope; and
all on board held their breath as the
two disappeared into the darkness.
d. avn along that frail cord which look
ed as slender as SPIDERS thread amid
the mountain waves that leaped and
CRASHED around like wild beasts. But;
after suspense which seemed endless
to the anxious watchers on the wreck.
a cheer from the shore, family THRONES
the roar of wind and wave, told th.s.
the mother and child had got safely to
land.
Thank God!' said the captain, fer
vently. ''Now, lads, away you go; ]
must be the last man aboard the poor
old craft, you know
The men obeycd in grim silence
One by one they were drawn to land.
and last of all came the captain HIM
self. But although he had borne up
brayely till then, his overtaxed strength
gave was as soon as he reached the
shore, and down he fell in a dead
faint
When he came to himself again, he
was lying on the floor of fisherman's.
hut, and beside him sat Mrs. Barrett
with her child in her lap.
IAN right, Cap'n," said the old fish
er1nan, cheerily, helping him to rise;
we've got your men safe, all twelve OF
'em."
"And the boyP" cried Captain Bar
rett--'the little cabin-boyP"
THE boyP" echoed the old man,
doubtfully. II didn't see no boy
among 'em, nohow.'
What! is little Bill missingPv shout
ed the captain. II must go and see
about that at once.
Out he went that moment, weak
though he was; and he soon fell in with
three or four Of his men, who, like him
self coming out of the huts in which
they had been sheltered. But none of
them knew anything about Bill, and
the captains heart was beginning to
sink, when somebody pulled him gen.
| tly by the sleeve, and there stood the
missing boy, mufled in huge pilot
coat.
Il was just a-lookin' for You sir"
said Bill, touching his forelock.
"Why, where on earth have you been,
my ladP' asked the captain. We all
thought you were lost.
"WeIl, you see, sir, Jim Burrows
wrapped me in tarpaulin, and held
me in his arms while they pulled him
ashore; and may be that's how they
didn't see me. I've brought you some
thing from the wreck, though. Look
here.
So saying. he produced from under
his coat the captains little raccoon,
Zip, which, overjoyed at seeing its
master again, leaped upon his broad
shoulders and rubbed its cold nose
against his face.
II didn't forget him." said the boy,
gleefully. II went down and got him
up just afore we struck, and buttoned
him inside my jacket; and here he is
all right and jolly"
Captain Barrett is an old man now,
but SO long as he lives neither Bill nor
Zip will ever be far away from him.
Darid Ker, in Harper's Young People.
a n-~sA.. ID